A council enforcement officer who was captured on video threatening to 'knock out' a member of the public has issued an apology video while claiming he and his colleague were harassed. Joseph Fernandes, 38, and Umar Siddiq, 30, were terminated by Kingdom Services Group, a contractor for Harrow Council in northwest London, after the May 18 incident went viral.
The encounter began when Fernandes and Siddiq were attempting to fine a teenager, identified as Alvin, 23, for allegedly spitting. Alvin intervened, advising the teenager not to pay without evidence, which led to the confrontation. During the minute-long exchange, Fernandes told Alvin, "When I'm not in uniform, I'm gonna knock you the f*** out and rip your teeth out." He also threatened to call the police, stating an officer would "f*** you up."
Harrow Council has since suspended its contract with Kingdom Services Group, stating that operations will remain paused until the company provides "clear guarantees" that its contracted enforcement agents will meet the borough's expected standards. Council leader Paul Osborn reported the enforcement officers to the police and emphasized that while enforcement is important for a safe borough, it must be professional and proportionate.
In a TikTok video posted on Monday, Fernandes claimed that Alvin had been "intoxicated" and had "harassed" the officers prior to the viral clip. He stated, "I know I would never react without a reason." Fernandes acknowledged that his words were inappropriate and that he would have handled the situation differently if given the chance, accepting responsibility for his actions while in uniform. However, he also suggested that a short clip does not capture the full reality of what transpired, implying provocation and unshown circumstances.
Kingdom Services Group confirmed that the individuals involved no longer work for the company and stated they take any instance of officers disabling body-worn cameras seriously, as these devices are a safeguard for the public and staff. The company added that both officers had passed background checks, completed training, and had no prior complaints. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.